Stamford Arts Centre celebrates the richness of Singapore’s multicultural arts through a slew of free traditional arts activities during the last weekend of the Singapore Night Festival

Singapore, 20 July 2023 – Organised by Arts House Limited (AHL) and held in conjunction with the Singapore Night Festival (SNF), A Date with Tradition will return for its third edition at Stamford Arts Centre (SAC) presenting over 15 free traditional arts programmes and activities from 25 to 26 August 2023. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the beauty and richness of traditional arts during the last weekend of SNF through two evenings of captivating performances, hands-on activities and artist showcases by local traditional arts groups.

(Left) Kedai Sinseh, a cross-cultural collaboration between Chinese chamber ensemble Ding Yi Music Company and Malay dance company P7:1SMA (Right) Showcasing the vibrant Peranakan culture, “Colours of Nanyang” by Dance Ensemble Singapore depicts the traditional Straits Chinese and Peranakan culture through beaded embroideries, costumes, porcelains, and the distinctive traditional Peranakan wedding.

In celebration of our nation’s multicultural arts, SAC will be enlivened with dynamic performances including a cross-cultural collaboration between Chinese chamber ensemble Ding Yi Music Company and Malay dance company P7:1SMA, titled Kedai Sinseh. Inspired by the medicinal shops around the area, the two SAC tenants have come together to create three performances that seek to rejuvenate the mind, body, and soul of audiences. Other inspirational performances to delight in include a spirited Peranakan dance performance by Dance Ensemble Singapore titled Colours of Nanyang, powerful Indian classical dance movements by SAC tenant Shantha Ratii Initiatives, Chinese Opera by Traditional Arts Centre and many more.

Those looking to try their hand at unique traditional arts practices can look forward to a wide range of interactive activities such as a Community Batik Project by Kamal Artshop that invites participants to collaborate in creating a large piece of batik art, and A Glimpse of Minhwa Art by Singapore Association of Minhwa Art where participants can try out Minhwa colouring. Want to bring home a piece of tradition? Learn the history of different traditional Chinese knots through the workshop A Peek into Traditional Chinese Knots by Wearable Craft, and visit local artist Chee Sau Fern’s open studio and discover the practice of creating headwear pieces through fresh expressions of disappearing craft traditions.

Come nightfall, SAC will be illuminated with A Global Bugis Phinisi, an installation by local artist Tay Swee Siong and X O X (two kisses and a hug) by Critical Craft Collective, from 18 to 26 August, as part of SNF. A Global Bugis Phinisi is inspired by the Indonesian sailing vessels utilised by Bugis-Makassar people for trade in the early 19th century while X O X (two kisses and a hug) is inspired by Singapore’s rich flora and the Sanskrit term for play, Lila (लीला), drawing participants of all ages to the seesaws like moths to light.

Sim Wan Hui, Director, Programming and Producing, at Arts House Limited said, "Building on the success of our previous edition, Arts House Limited is thrilled to make traditional arts activities more accessible to the community once again with the return of A Date with Tradition. The Stamford Arts Centre will be filled with pockets of vibrant ethnic art performances, workshops, and nostalgic games and activities. We invite everyone to come together with their friends and family to learn more about different traditional cultures and share memories of Singapore through the universal language of art.”

All activities as part of A Date with Tradition 2023 are free of charge with some programmes requiring registration. For the full list of programmes and activities, please refer to the Annex.

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About Stamford Arts Centre

Located within the vibrant neighbourhood of the Arts & Heritage District and Waterloo Arts Belt, Stamford Arts Centre (SAC) is a multidisciplinary arts centre with a focus on traditional arts. It serves as an arts space that is dedicated to the development of traditional arts content and artistic collaborations, bringing traditional arts closer to the community. SAC aims to keep this rich and diverse intangible cultural heritage of Singapore alive and relevant, and transmit it to future generations.

About Arts House Limited
Arts House Limited (AHL) is a not-for-profit organisation committed to enriching lives through the arts. AHL manages six arts spaces that aim to support our arts sector and bring communities together. These include two national monuments - The Arts House, multidisciplinary arts centre, and Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall, a heritage building that is home to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. It also runs the performing arts space Drama Centre as well as three enclaves for arts groups and creative businesses - the Goodman Arts Centre, Aliwal Arts Centre and Stamford Arts Centre. It is the cultural place manager of Singapore's Civic District.

AHL organises two national pinnacle festivals – the Singapore International Festival of Arts focused on the performing arts, and the Singapore Writers Festival - a multi-lingual festival presenting the world's leading literary talents. In addition, it manages Our Cultural Medallion Story – the showcase on Singapore's Cultural Medallion recipients at The Arts House.

Arts House Limited is a public company limited by guarantee under the National Arts Council. First set up as The Old Parliament House Limited in 2002, it was renamed Arts House Limited in 2014. For more information, visit https://artshouselimited.sg/

About Singapore Night Festival (SNF)
The Singapore Night Festival (SNF) is the National Heritage Board’s signature arts and culture festival in the vibrant Bras Basah.Bugis precinct Since its inception in 2008, the annual festival has presented a diverse mix of artworks and performances by local and international artists, featuring cross-disciplinary acts and influences which continue to push the boundaries and enthral festival-goers.

Festival-goers can expect to be mesmerised by a plethora of activities, including projection mappings, light art installations, performances, other experiential programmes, and food and retail experiences. A key event in the regional festival calendar, SNF provides a platform for artists and stakeholders to meet, create and collaborate to present exciting, cutting-edge acts, and transform familiar spaces in the arts and heritage precinct for festival-goers. For more information, please visit: https://www.nightfestival.gov.sg/